JULY 31, 2000

Webber to test for Benetton

AS we predicted as long ago as May, Mark Webber will soon be testing for the Benetton Formula 1 team. Our spies within the team insist that the Australian will be running at Lurcy-Levis in the week after the Hungarian Grand Prix in two weeks from now. Team management refuse to confirm the stories and Webber is making no comment until there is official word from the team.

Webber will then go on to take part in a big test in Estoril which is scheduled to take place just before the Italian Grand Prix in mid-September. Benetton appears to be keen to see how Webber goes and if things go well it is possible that he might be drafted in to the F1 team for the last few races as a replacement for Alexander Wurz. With the final two races of the season taking place in the Pacific Rim, having an Australian driver would obviously help interest in the World Championship across Asia and so is likely to be supported by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Much will depend on the testing but with the team having no future with Alexander Wurz there seems to be little to be gained from continuing with the Austrian until the end of the year.